POPULATION STUDIES

POPULATION IS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE OCCUPYING A PARTICULAR AREA

OBJECTIVES:

Define the following concepts: population (defacto and dejure), population

pressure ,optimum population, population explosion, population density, population
distribution, fertility rate, mortality rate, over population , under population and
population growth
Account for the world`s population distribution patterns(with the aid of a map)
Discuss factors influencing population growth
Describe the growth of the world`s population and its consequences
Evaluate the impact of rapid population growth on the available resources
Interpret population pyramids of developing countries (with emphasis on Botswana)
and those of a developed country
Describe and explain the different stages of the Demographic Transition Model
Explain Botswana’s position in the Demographic Transition Model
Account for the population density and distribution with the aid of a map, in
Botswana
Project future population growth trends of Botswana
Evaluate stakeholders (Government, NGO`s, Churches, and local
authorities ,communities ) in an effort to curb rapid population growth
Population movements
Define migration
Differentiate between types of migration for example: local, regional and
international , internal and external, temporary and permanent
Critically asses population movements and evaluate their impact on
available resources
Evaluate the impact of migration on both rural and urban areas in Botswana
Evaluate government`s effort to curb rural-urban migration.

KEY TERMS:

1. Defacto population-the total number of people present in the country during the census
including the foreigners
2. Dejure population- the total number of people in the country including citizens temporarily
outside the country at the time of census
3. Population pressure-the force exerted by a growing population upon its environment
resulting in reduction of the population.
4. Optimum population-when resources are equal to the population
5. Population explosion-very rapid population increase caused by sudden decline in death rate
and high birth rate
6. Population density-the number of people per unit area of land /square kilometre.
7. Population distribution –this is how population is spread in an area
 8. Fertility rate-the average number of live births a woman is capable of producing during a
reproductive age
9. Mortality rate-the percentage of children that die in the first few years of life
10. Over population-when an area has too many people than can be supported by available
natural resources
11. Under-population-when there are more resources than people or when there are few
people to fully utilize the available resources
12. Population growth-the increase or decrease in the number of people
13. Life expectancy-the average number of years a person is expected to live
14. Natural increase- the difference between the birth and death rates
15. Dependency ratio-the proportion of working people to non working people

POPULATION DISTRIBUTION

This is how the population is spread in an area. The world population is unevenly distributed. Some
areas are densely populated.(have too many people).e.g. China, India, Japan. Whereas others are
sparsely populated (have few people) e.g. cold and hot deserts, tropical rain forests

Factors influencing population distribution

Physical factors Socio-economic factors

-availability of water -political stability
-fertile soils -government policy
-gentle slope/ flat land -good communication network
-disease free areas -availability of industries
-pleasant weather -raw materials
-open grassland -development of infrastructure

POPULATION GROWTH

This refers to the increase or decrease in the number of people. The world population has grown
very rapidly. Any change in the population size is determined by:

1. Birth rate
2. Death rate
3. Migration

Factors affecting birth rates

Developing countries Developed countries

High birth rates due to -intensive use of family planning
 Little or no use of contraceptives -education for family
 Cultural beliefs -improved status of women
 Polygamy -industrialisation and urbanisation
 Early marriages
 High infant mortality rate
 Religious beliefs
 Desire to prove virility
 Desire to have a child of a particular
 sex
 Children as source of labour
&insurance or security

Ways of reducing high birth rates in developing countries

 Encourage family planning/free supply of contraceptives
 Education on advantages of small families
 Women empowerment (more jobs for women)
 Late marriages
 Legalizing abortion / sterilization
 Incentives for small sized families-paying low taxes, subsidized housing and punish those
with large families – unpaid maternity leave after second child

Why is it difficult to control birth rates in developing countries?

 Lack of money
 Lack of knowledge/awareness of the problem in rural areas
 Lack of family planning advisors
 Very large population /wide spread population
 Parents want children

Death rates –

Developing countries Developed countries

-very high Low death rates
-reasons – Reasons
 Wars  Improved medication
 Famine  Better diets/nutrition
 Epidemic diseases  Improved hygiene /sanitation
 Lack of medical attention  Industrial revolution
 Poor nutrition

STAGES IN POPULATION GROWTH

The demographic transition model-the model explains the stages in population growth through
which most countries pass. It suggests that most countries (developing and developed) pass through
a number of stages in population growth.( changes occur through four distinct stages)

Stage 1- high stationary phase

Characterised by – high birth rate and death rates (low natural increase-slow population growth but
it fluctuates because of variations in death rates resulting from wars, natural disasters, poor diets,
epidemics.

Stage 2-early expanding stage

Birth rates remain high but death rates decline drastically due to: improvement in medical care,
food, hygiene/sanitation leading to a very rapid population increase. Population growth at this stage
is very rapid.

Stage 3-late expanding

Death rates remain low but birth rates now begin to decline as the standard of living improves and
more people begin to use contraceptives, there is increased knowledge about family planning.
Population growth begins to slow down.

Stage 4- low stationary phase

Both birth rates and death rates are low (both have stabilised at a low level because of further
improvement in socio-economic conditions), but birth rates fluctuate more than death rates. There
is very slow population growth. Most developed countries are at this stage.

POPULATION PYRAMIDS AND STRUCTURES

The graphical representation of age and sex composition of the population. Horizontal bars
represent age groups with the youngest at the bottom and the oldest at the top. Bars for males are
on the left and females on the right. The number of males and females in each age group is shown
by the length of the bar.

Population structure: make up/composition of population according to age and sex. It shows the
proportion of males to females, children to adults, working people against non working people.

Population of a country may be divided into three:

a. Young people (under 15years)-the economically inactive, depend on adults for their needs.
b. Adults(15-64 years)-the most economically active and reproductive group which supports
the other two groups of dependents
c. Old(65+years)- mostly retired people, depend on adults

CHARACTERISTICS OF PYRAMIDS

DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

-Have a broad/ wide base showing a young population/more children therefore dependency ratio is
high
-Narrow thin top showing few old people, low life expectancy and high death rate
-Concave sides showing rapidly increasing population, few middle age therefore few working
population
-High dependency ratio therefore low standard of living
-Large difference between steps/ rapid falls in each upward age group showing that many people die
at each age.
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES

-Narrow base showing fewer children born, people prefer small families.
-Wide top showing many old people are surviving therefore have a higher life expectancy.
-Convex sides/bulge in ages ranging from 45-55 years showing that old people dominate (ageing
population)
-Small difference between steps showing that few die at each age.

PROBLEMS THAT COUNTRIES WITH A POPULATION STRUCTURE SUCH AS THESE MAY FACE
 Decline in labour force
 Ageing population
 Illegal immigrants
 Pressure on health care services/old age diseases
 Pressure on social care services
 Government to provide welfare/pensions
 Underutilised resources/services
 The benefit gap leading to rising taxes

IMPACTS OF RAPID POPULATION GROWTH ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Rapid population growth can put a lot of pressure on natural resources like water, plants and
animals on which people depend to meet their basic needs (food, shelter and clothing). The pressure
could lead to unsustainable use of resources especially if the population growth rate is faster than
the rate at which the resources are renewed.

Characteristics of overpopulation

Problems of overpopulation Possible problems

 Shortage of land-overcrowding -increase agricultural -production(food)
 Shortage of food/ starvation -increase industrial production to create
 Shortage of schools employment
 Shortage of health facilities -increase exports to earn foreign exchange
 Shortage of clean water -discourage immigration
 Poor hygiene/ lack of sanitation -ask for foreign aid.
 Shortage of housing
 Unemployment/ poverty
 Development of shanty towns
 Increasing pollution
 Increasing crime
 Low life expectancy
 Deforestation, soil erosion, land
degradation.

Under population-more resources than people

Problems of under population Possible solutions

 -lack of labour -encourage immigration
-underutilised resources/ services -discourage emigration
-lack of market
-dependency on other countries for goods,
services, labour.
-low gross national product (GNP).

MIGRATION/ POPULATION MOVEMENTS

Migration is the movement of people from one place to another. Migration may be:

Internal /local: movement of people within a country.eg.

a. rural –urban migration

b. rural- rural migration
c. urban-rural migration
d. urban –urban migration

-Regional migration: people move to neighbouring countries.eg. from Southern Africa to East Africa

-International/External migration: movement between countries. e.g. Botswana to United States

-Temporary: this involves migration of people from home to their work place and back each day.
(daily commuters)

-Permanent migration-involves people moving from one place to another with the intention of not
coming back to their original place.

-Special migration- is a forced migration

Emigration: movement of people out of a country (out migration)

Immigration: movement of people into a country (in migration)

Factors affecting migration / causes of migration

They are many reasons why people migrate but economic consideration constitutes the most
important cause of migration.

Push factors-things that force people to leave Pull factors-things that attract people to certain
areas
-lack of employment -better medical facilities
-poor health facilities -better educational facilities
-low productivity in agriculture -more job opportunities
-diseases/epidemics in rural areas -political stability
-civil wars -tourism /recreation
-religious persecution -improved transport
-drought &famine -good market/ shopping
-fear of witchcraft/family conflicts -provision of social amenities eg water,
-poor social services eg schools, hospitals, electricity,
 entertainment -marriage
Shortage of farm land -pleasant weather/climate
-overcrowding/poor housing -industrialisation
-retirement
Impacts of migration on both rural and urban areas

Effects on rural(origin) areas Effects on urban areas (receiving) areas

-positive Positive
 Immigrants send money home hence  Increase in economic activities /
help improve living standards production
 Bring new skills to rural areas when they  Growth of settlements
come back  Cultural interaction/ social progress
Negative : Negative:
-depopulation -overcrowding/shortage of housing
-less developments -pressure on natural resources
-sex imbalance -high spread of diseases
-aging population -increase in pollution, crime, unemployment,
-decline in agriculture social ills
-family breakdown -development of squatter settlements
-brain drain -traffic congestion
-cultural disintegration -pressure on social services
-rural poverty -environmental degradation
-high dependency ratio -poor sanitation
-females play double roles

Government`s efforts to curb rural – urban migration

 Improvement in infrastructure such as roads to attract industries to rural areas

 Rural electrification to improve standards of living/ attract industries
 Improvement in agriculture to create employment/ encourage food production
 Rural industrialisation to create employment
 Decentralisation of government services to control rural –urban migration
 Remote area dweller allowances to attract government employees to work in rural areas.

HIV/AIDS IN BOTSWANA

OBJECTIVES:

 EXPLAIN OR WRITE WHAT HIV/AIDS STAND FOR

 DESCRIBE WAYS OF SPREADING HIV/AIDS
 DISCUSS THE IMPACTS OF HIV/AIDS ON THE SOCIO-ECONOMY OF BOTSWANA
 DISCUSS THE GOVERNMENTS EFFORTS TOWARDS CURBING THE SPREAD OF HIV/AIDS

WHAT DOES HIV/AIDS STAND FOR?

HIV- human immunodeficiency virus

Aids-acquired immune deficiency syndrome

HIV is a virus that attacks and kills the body `s immune system and causes slow collapse of the ability
to fight illness.(it destroy the defence system on your body)

WAYS OF SPREADING HIV/AIDS

 Blood transfusion using infected blood

 Unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected person
 Sharing sharp instruments/ unsterilized needles with an infected person
 Infected mother can pass the virus to child through breast feeding/ during birth/during
pregnancy
 Helping wounded/bleeding infected person without protection/gloves

Impacts of HIV/AIDS on the socio-economy

Social impacts Economic impacts

 As parents die children look after their -poverty as bread winners die
siblings -skilled labour is lost due to deaths- low
 As parents die the old lose care- takers productivity
 As parents die children are left under the -low productivity at the work place-need to train
care of the aged new workers
 Infected people are stigmatised -development slows down as money is diverted
 Children left as orphans. to aids programmes.
-government expenditure increases as
medication and food have to be provided

Government and NGO`s efforts towards curbing the spread of HIV/AIDS

 Education
 Research
 Provision of free ARV`s
 Provision of free condoms
 Treat-all programme
 Prevention of mother to child transmission
 Safe male circumcision
 Free counselling and testing
 Provision of food hampers

Churches and local community

REVISION QUESTIONS
1.